Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2001-03-21
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 21, 2001
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TITLES
[Á] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] VATICAN FM IN ATHENS, MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP
[02] GREEK PM DISCUSSES FYROM CRISIS WITH TONY BLAIR
[03] GREECE ISN'T PLANNING TO REINFORCE KFOR TROOPS
[04] THESSALONIKI HOSTS EVENT ON CHILDREN' S MEDIA
[05] NEW AIRPORT FACILITIES REMAIN OPEN FOR TOURS
[06] GROSSMAN: BOTH OF CYPRUS' COMMUNITIES IN EU
[07] UK FINDS ON GREECE'S SOCIAL SECURITY OUT IN APRIL
[08] IRAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS
[09] GREEK STUDENTS NOT XENOPHOBIC, BUT PARENTS ARE
[10] GREEK PREMIER, FM AT STOCKHOLM FOR EU SUMMIT
[11] ETHNIC GREEK ASSOCIATIONS CALL FOR GREEK GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTION IN THE ALBANIAN POPULATION CENSUS
[12] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[13] REPPAS: ISOLATED PHENOMENA OF RACISM IN GREECE
[14] REPPAS: THERE IS NO STATE INTERVENTION IN THE FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP
[15] REPPAS: CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION COURSE IS UNDERWAY
[16] VERELIS IS ON A VISIT TO SYRIA
[17] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL TAKE PART IN US1 BILLION PROJECTS IN
2001
[18] MORE ABORTIONS THAN BIRTHS IN GREECE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] STATEMENT BY SAE-AMERICA ON THE ISSUE OF THE FYROM NAME
[20] TWO ETHNIC GREEKS WERE INJURED IN A HAND GRENADE ATTACK IN
HIMARA
[21] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS IN FAVOR OF A NATO ACTION IN FYROM
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] VATICAN FM IN ATHENS, MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP
Cardinal and Interior Minister of the Vatican Paolo Santiri
was received by the Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece
Christodoulos in Athens yesterday, with whom he had a 45-minute
discussion.
Mr. Santiri delivered a letter on behalf of Pope John Paul II
regarding the latter's visit to Greece on May 4 and 5. This will
be the first-ever visit by a pontiff to the modern Greek state and
the first by a Roman Catholic pope in Greece proper for more than
1,200 years.
According to Mr. Santiri, the letter conveyed a message of
"love and joy" from the Pope to the Greek Archbishop.
[02] GREEK PM DISCUSSES FYROM CRISIS WITH TONY BLAIR
Prime Minister Costas Simitis met with his British
counterpart Tony Blair at 10 Downing St. yesterday evening, with
whom he discussed developments in FYROM, the course of the
European Union, Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.
Following their talks, Mr. Simitis stated that he had "a very
friendly and open discussion" on issues that are of mutual
concern.
"Of course, firstly, we discussed the developments in the
Skopje, we both were of the opinion that this negative development
must come to an end, since a negative development would mean a
spread of the crisis in the Balkans.
"I found out during this discussion, as I realized during
other discussions, that there exists the will and the process has
been set in motion so as to have an intervention, which will be
decisive. Some time is needed, however, for this process to be
completed, the (necessary) climate is needed as well," he added.
In turn, Mr. Blair acknowledged Greece's leading and
substantial role in the Balkan region.
[03] GREECE ISN'T PLANNING TO REINFORCE KFOR TROOPS
Greece isn't planning to reinforce its military force now
serving in the NATO contingent controlling Kosovo (KFOR),
according to Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who also added
that the international community should undertake tougher
measures.
"The international community and the European Union cannot on
the one hand support the political stability of the region's
countries, peoples and governments, through economic and
administrative means and allow some to think that they can play a
game of subversion. We wholly reject this; Greece is not about to
reinforce its military force now serving in KFOR," he said.
[04] THESSALONIKI HOSTS EVENT ON CHILDREN' S MEDIA
Representatives of the world industry of children's audio
visual media, as well as children from all over the world, will be
taking part in the Third World Conference for children and audio
visual media to be hosted in Thessaloniki from March 23-26.
The conference, held at the initiative of the European Center
of Children's Television, is organized by the company "Children-
Media Development". It is an event for children on audio-visual
media and it is held every three years.
[05] NEW AIRPORT FACILITIES REMAIN OPEN FOR TOURS
Athens' new international airport at Spata, the 'Eleftherios
Venizelos', will remain open to the public today for tours around
the new airport's facilities.
Those wishing to visit the new airport will be able to get
there on free buses, which depart from the Ethniki Amyna metro
terminal from 9:00 until 16:00 local time.
The airport will be inaugurated on March 27 by Prime Minister
Costas Simitis, in the presence of President of the Republic
Kostis Stephanopoulos.
[06] GROSSMAN: BOTH OF CYPRUS' COMMUNITIES IN EU
Both the Greek-Cypriot and the Turkish-Cypriot communities
should have the opportunity to enter the European Union, the
nominee for the post of United States assistant secretary of state
Marc Grossman said during his hearing before the US Senate Foreign
Relations Committee yesterday.
"I think that the European Union is the great goal out there
and we ought to be able to make sure that all people in Cyprus
whether in the North or the South, have the opportunity to get in
the European Union," he stated, adding that "to do that they're
going to have to settle the problem."
Moreover, Mr. Grossman, who has served as US Ambassador to
Ankara, stressed that "it's in the interest of Turkey that there
be a settlement on the island. It's surely in the interest of most
of the Turkish Cypriots, I would say, to have a settlement on the
island.
"We have got to impress on the Turkish Cypriots and the
people in Ankara that they have got to get involved in this
negotiation. And we've got to use, it seems to me, leverage. But I
use that term kind of in a positive way, in terms of what Cyprus
is going to do to get into the European Union," he said.
[07] UK FINDS ON GREECE'S SOCIAL SECURITY OUT IN APRIL
A report by British actuaries concerning the condition of
Greece's social security funds and the government's positions on a
reform of the social security system are to be unveiled in the
first two weeks of April, according to Labor Minister Tassos
Yiannitsis.
Mr. Yiannitsis stated that the ministry is to remain
steadfast to its policy in talks with trade unions and employers
over changes in the social security system in the country.
Although the Minister stressed that the country's social
security system is already facing financial problems -and
predicted that in the next eight to nine years it would face even
greater pressure-, he also referred to similar problems facing
other EU countries. A European Union summit to soon be held in
Stockholm will determine the frameworks of social policy among EU
member-states and form the basis for a unified stance on the
issue.
[08] IRAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO ATHENS
Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos met with his Iranian
counterpart Vice-Adm. Ali Shamkhani in Athens yesterday where the
latter was received by the President of the Hellenic Republic
Kostis Stephanopoulos.
The two ministers discussed the situation in FYROM, along
with the latest developments in the Middle East, SE Europe and
bilateral cooperation in the defense sector.
Regarding bilateral issues, both defense ministers said areas
of joint cooperation could be found in the fields of logistical
support and health services and expand opportunities of
collaboration in the electronic and technological sectors.
Vice-Adm. Shamkhani stressed that bilateral cooperation with
Greece is not aimed against any third country and will not be
subject to any whatsoever influence from other countries.
[09] GREEK STUDENTS NOT XENOPHOBIC, BUT PARENTS ARE
Illustrating an obvious "generation gap", students in Greece
are not xenophobic since the presence of their migrant classmates
doesn't bother them, but the same cannot be said of their parents
who are not as tolerant.
According to a poll entitled "Discrimination-Racism-
Xenophobia and the Greek Educational System", 88 percent of
primary school children have a positive opinion of their foreign
friends, 75.6 percent have an immigrant friend, 86.8 percent are
willing to share a desk with one and 60 percent believe that
foreign students should be able to attend any Greek school.
On the other hand, 51.7 percent of parents are anxious over
the presence of immigrants in Greek society; according to the
survey, 50.7 percent of the parents are opposed to the presence of
immigrant children at Greek schools, with 30.3% of them responding
that they are "definitely bothered" and 20.4% stating that they
are "rather bothered".
Of the parents surveyed, 62.3% responded that foreigners
living in Greece should leave, as they either aren't needed or are
illegal. Another 10.9 percent responded that all foreigners
should "go back home", while 17.2% said that they should stay and
have the same rights enjoyed by Greeks. Another portion, 7.1
percent, believes that foreigners should stay, but not have the
same rights as nationals.
The survey was conducted by Kappa Research for Greece's
branch of UNICEF, along with the AKMI private vocational training
college, between March 6-13 in Athens and Thessaloniki.
[10] GREEK PREMIER, FM AT STOCKHOLM FOR EU SUMMIT
Prime Minister Costas Simitisi and Foreign Minister George
Papandreou are to depart for Sweden tomorrow, in order to
participate in the European Union's Summit that will be held in
Stockholm on March 23-24.
Enlargement, employment and environmental concerns will be
the three issues to top the agenda during the Summit.
Regarding the EU's enlargement, Sweden believes that the
opportunity exists for achieving significant progress after the
Nice Summit agreements.
On joblessness, the Swedish presidency is to focus on
strategies to increase employment through economic reforms,
educational programs and social welfare. Specifically, the Summit
will be called on to implement the EU policy on unemployment that
was decided at Lisbon a year ago, and will deal mainly with
economic and social issues.
On the sidelines of the summit, during a working dinner also
attended by EU foreign ministers, Europe's leaders will discuss
political issues, such as developments in FYROM, the Middle East
crisis and Europe's relations with Korea.
As for environmental policies, Sweden is expected to promote
EU cooperation regulated by environmental considerations.
Sweden is also to grant special attention to EU's relations
with Russia and it will work toward the further development of its
crisis management capability.
Foreign Minister George Papandreou is expected to meet with
his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov on the Summit's sidelines, as
the latter will be in Stockholm, along with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, to discuss economic and trade relations between
Russia and the EU.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to outline the overall
situation in Greece and the Balkans, and is expected to request
from his EU counterparts that they provide an active presence to
the Balkan region, as well as undertake measures that will
contribute to the establishment of peace, security and stability
in the area.
[11] ETHNIC GREEK ASSOCIATIONS CALL FOR GREEK GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTION IN THE ALBANIAN POPULATION CENSUS
The ethnic Greek Minority Associations in a request submitted
to the Greek parliament by right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy parliament deputy Sotiris Kouvelas call on the Greek
government to persuade the Albanian government to accept their
demands concerning the imminent population census that will be
held in Albania.
Specifically, the ethnic Greek Minority Associations want the
nationality, language and religion to be included in the
population census questionnaire, the Albanian government to stop
the policy it follows against the ethnic Greek minority, one
person per family in each household to be enough on the day of the
population census, the Albanian government to announce the date of
the population census in time, the population census to continue
for 2-3 days including a weekend, and finally, they want the
movement of immigrants at the Greek-Albanian borders to be
facilitated.
[12] LOSSES IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
Losses were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange. The
general index dropped to -1.12% at 3.073,50 points, while the
volume of transactions was relatively small at 184.6 million Euro
or 62.9 billion drachmas.
Of the stocks trading today, 227 recorded losses and 101 had
gains, while the value of 44 stocks remained stable.
[13] REPPAS: ISOLATED PHENOMENA OF RACISM IN GREECE
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as
isolated the phenomena of xenophobia and racism recorded in
Greece, stating that they are condemned strongly.
Mr. Reppas attributed the isolated racist phenomena to the
fact that there is a large number of economic refugees in Greece
compared to the Greek population. He also stressed that the
sporadic incidents that have been recorded in Greece should not
lead to the generalized conclusion that the Greeks are racists and
xenophobic.
The Greek society is tolerant and open and as time passes
such phenomena will gradually disappear, stated Mr. Reppas.
[14] REPPAS: THERE IS NO STATE INTERVENTION IN THE FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there
is no state intervention in Greece in the area of the football
championship, responding to a question by a reporter on the FIFA
letter that calls for a legislation to safeguard the autonomy of
the Greek Football Federation.
He added that the responsible government minister has
expressed his position on the issue, which is in compliance with
the European Union decisions, adding that the Greek Football
Federation's autonomy is indisputable but the Greek state
exercises its rights.
Finally, he stated that a legislative initiative aimed at
solving the problem will be undertaken after the Easter Holidays.
[15] REPPAS: CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION COURSE IS UNDERWAY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, when called to
comment on the statements made by US assistant secretary of state
Mr. Marc Grossman according to which, the Cyprus problem must be
solved before Cyprus becomes an EU member, stated that Cyprus' EU
accession course is underway and it will not be interrupted.
The Greek government spokesman added that binding decisions
on Cyprus' EU accession have been made in the Helsinki Summit
meeting. He also stated that Cyprus' accession is not linked with
the solution of the Cyprus problem and that Cyprus has all the
necessary preconditions to become an EU member.
On Turkey's national action plan, the Greek government
spokesman stated that it will be evaluated in the EU general
affairs council meeting next May. He said that Greece evaluates
Turkey's national action plan in comparison with the contents of
the partnership relation text, clarifying that there are positive
points regarding the Turkish state's internal organization.
However, he added that on issues that concern Greece this text is
not based on the EU-Turkey partnership relation text.
[16] VERELIS IS ON A VISIT TO SYRIA
Greek transportation minister Christos Verelis is on a visit
to Syria. The goal of the visit is the signing of an international
road transportation agreement that has already been initialed.
Mr. Verelis is accompanied by a business delegation and is
scheduled to meet with the prime minister and the vice-president
of the Syrian government to discuss issues of bilateral interest,
as well as initiatives for the development of the Greek-Syrian
relations.
[17] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL TAKE PART IN US1 BILLION PROJECTS IN
2001
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank participation in the
financing of US1 billion projects that will materialize in the
Black Sea zone this year is estimated to be US300 million.
The above were announced in Thessaloniki today by Black Sea
vice-president Daniela Bobeva clarifying that in 2000 had been
approved US400-500 million projects.
Also, the Black Sea Bank has approved export credits of
US17.5 million that will be received by its 11 member-states
namely, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece,
Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey.
[18] MORE ABORTIONS THAN BIRTHS IN GREECE
Every year two in three pregnant women end up in having an
abortion in Greece, while one in ten couples can not have
children. Specifically, each year there are 100.000 births, while
abortions are estimated to be 200.000. As a result, to each couple
correspond 1.2 births when in Turkey they are more than four and
in the rest of Europe each couple has more than two children on
the average.
The increased number of abortions in Greece results from the
fact that contraceptives are not being used as much as they should
have, while people are ignorant regarding the way that they can be
used.
The above were stated by Thessaloniki Aristotle University
Obstetrics and Gynecology professor Ioannis Bontis in a press
conference that was given on the occasion of the 1st Geriatrics
Conference that will take place in Thessaloniki on March 30.
He also stated that one in ten couples has difficulties in
conception and 10% of the births in Greece are the result of in
vitro fertilization. The success rate of this method is 20-25%.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[19] STATEMENT BY SAE-AMERICA ON THE ISSUE OF THE FYROM NAME
The World Council of Greeks Abroad, SAE, expresses its
support to the US-Canada Pan-Macedonian Federation on the issue of
the name that will be used by FYROM.
In the statement it is mentioned that if FYROM is recognized
as "Macedonia" this sensitive region of the Balkans would be
further destabilized. In the statement it is stressed that
bilateral negotiations on the issue of the name will continue in
New York in April, while the recent violence in the Balkans
especially, at the FYROM-Kosovo borders, should be taken under
consideration.
Also, the Greek government is being called to take under
serious consideration the firm positions of the Pan-Macedonian
Federation and prevent short-term interests from undermining the
long lasting stability and security in Greece.
[20] TWO ETHNIC GREEKS WERE INJURED IN A HAND GRENADE ATTACK IN
HIMARA
Two ethnic Greeks were injured in a hand grenade attack
targeting a Greek coffee-shop in Himara, Albania last Sunday
night.
One of the two brothers, who own the coffee-shop, was injured
as well as an ethnic Greek customer and an Albanian. The last two
were seriously injured. The attack was launched after a brawl
between the perpetrator, who is Albanian, and ethnic Greeks living
in the region.
The Himara Residents Association mentions, in a statement
issued on the occasion of the imminent population census and
parliamentary elections in Albania, that the Albanian government
has launched a terror campaign against the ethnic Greek minority
and calls on the Greek government to demand from the Albanian
authorities to protect the ethnic Greeks in the region as a token
of appreciation for the contribution of the Greek state in the
Albanian state reconstruction efforts.
[21] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS IN FAVOR OF A NATO ACTION IN FYROM
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis in statements he made in
London today, after yesterday's meeting with his British
counterpart Tony Blair, referred to the situation created in the
Balkans as a result of the Albanian extremists' actions in FYROM.
Mr. Simitis stated that he supports a more active NATO in the
crisis that has been created and pointed out that the alliance can
not remain indifferent. The Greek prime minister stated that NATO
can not maintain that the issue is not of its concern given the
fact that the present situation is the result of its earlier
actions.
According to Mr. Simitis, the United States do not intend to
withdraw their troops from the international peacekeeping force in
Kosovo.
On Greece's stance, Mr. Simitis underlined that the Greek
government will not undertake unilateral initiatives even though
the Skopje government would have wanted it. He also stressed that
Greece as a neighbor of the countries involved in the crisis needs
to be careful in order to avoid provoking any friction. He also
underlined that the Greek government will act within the framework
of the international organizations to which it belongs namely,
NATO and the European Union.
Mr. Simitis pointed out that in the meeting he had with Mr.
Blair they discussed the issue of terrorism and the British prime
minister expressed his satisfaction for the Scotland Yard and
Greek Police cooperation within the framework of the investigation
on the assassination of British military attache Stephen Saunders
by the terrorist organization "17 November" .
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